tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14626779504968170032024-03-19T05:18:21.642-07:00Christian Living in a Modern WorldLiving a realistic authentic life in the 21st centuryBrian E. Conklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06421366927356615306noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-86584522371603051812013-06-17T13:03:00.001-07:002013-06-17T13:04:39.248-07:00Fathers Don't Exasperate Your Children<img alt="Aidan and Emma enjoying some frozen yogurt" height="113" src="http://www.clctc.org/sites/default/files/Aidan%20and%20Emma%20at%20Maui%27s%20Apple%28small%29.jpg" style="float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" title="Aidan and Emma" width="200" />Kelly and I have strived to include our children, ages 11 and 9 at the time of writing, as part of our ministry team as much as possible. I have to say I am quite proud when they argue over who can lead family devotions from time to time. Each one wants to, and we use these times as teachable moments. I count it as a tremendous blessing to have children who <em>want</em> to serve the Lord. I count it as joy for children who strive to be the best they can be in what the Lord has created them to be and do.<br />
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Yesterday was Father's Day here in the United States. We sent out a message on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CLCTC" target="_blank" title="Cell Life Church on Facebook">CLCTC Facebook page</a> as well as <a href="http://twitter.com/twitter" target="_blank" title="Cell Life Church on Twitter">tweeted</a> a "Happy Father's Day". I included a verse found in Ephesians. "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." <a href="http://bible.us/111/eph.6.4.niv" target="_blank" title="Ephesians 6:4">Ephesians 6:4</a>. I often hope and pray that as a father I am not exasperating my children, though I am sure I do sometimes. I was praying that when the children asked if they could lead family devotion time.<br />
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It was wonderful listening to them read scripture and foster discussion about the love of God the Father found in Romans and 1 Corinthians. It was amazing to hear them tie that together with advice and instructions from Moses in Deuteronomy about not forgetting the Lord our God and that He is the source of all blessings, good things, and abilities. I should not have been surprised when the children added thoughtful questions for us to discuss and then a children's church style game of acrostics to list and discuss the characteristics of God.<br />
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I am thankful that I have been adopted into the family of God and have become a co-heir with Christ in the family of God. I can look to God as both father, and dad. I can know He is not going to exasperate me, but teach me and train me in His ways. He'll rebuke me and throttle me as necessary so that I can become and do all that He has created me to be and do. He'll also bless me and provide for me as I have need and desire.<br />
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In all, I could not have had a better Father's Day present. Thank you Lord for the gift of my children and what you have instilled in them, and what you have given me so that I can train them and instruct them in your ways.<br />
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So, friends, my advice to you is simple. <a href="http://bible.us/111/luk.10.27.niv" target="_blank" title="Luke 10:27">Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength</a>; <a href="http://bible.us/111/pro.3.6.niv" target="_blank" title="Proverbs 3:6">acknowledge Him in all that you do</a>; <a href="http://bible.us/111/eph.6.4.niv" target="_blank" title="Ephesians 6:4">don't exasperate your children, but raise them up in the Lord</a>.<br />
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This blog was originally published on the <a href="http://www.clctc.org/" target="_blank">Cell Life Church web site</a>. You can read more on <a href="http://www.clctc.org/our-blog/brian-e-conklin" target="_blank">Brian's blog page</a> there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-32190082540318063572012-10-14T07:59:00.000-07:002012-10-14T07:59:32.315-07:00Hiding in Plain SightHiding in plain sight is an art of camouflage and avoiding attention. You have to be aware of your surroundings and make conscious decisions in your appearance and actions in order to blend in and effectively hide. Over time though this can become second nature. If you focus on blending in you can become virtually invisible. There are times this is very important. It is very important for a mouse to blend into its surroundings unless it wants to be an owl's meal. It is also important for a soldier to blend into his surroundings as he moves so he can hide from the enemy. Sometimes we as followers of Jesus Christ hide in plain sight, and it's not always a good thing.<div>
</div><a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/10/hiding-in-plain-sight.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-53048841017391346382012-10-07T07:48:00.000-07:002012-10-07T07:48:37.451-07:00Fighting TraditionsTraditions are amazing things. They bring comfort when times are tumultuous. They bring people together when nothing else will. We find joy in them with some ceremonies and rituals. We even find identity with some. I like traditions. I think of all the places in my life where I have been surrounded by traditions; growing up in New England, scouting, volunteer fire department, the Navy. I think the place that is steeped in the most tradition though is the church.<div>
</div><a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/10/fighting-traditions.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-65814020179055016632012-09-30T07:53:00.000-07:002012-09-30T07:53:26.080-07:00God's Will For Your LifeVocational ministers or professional clergy get to hear questions from people that are not normally asked in casual conversation. The questions change a little bit depending on the role; pastor, chaplain, evangelist, or missionary. The questions, however, are consistent in large part. One of the common questions is "What is God's will for my life?" I heard it often as a youth pastor and I thought it would diminish as I transitioned to ministering to adults predominantly. It hasn't. People's thoughts of their lives and God's plan and purpose for them seem to transcend generations. The part that is interesting to me and my subject today is not specifically God's will for your life, or you knowing that will, but your motivation in wanting to know it.<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/09/gods-will-for-your-life.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-39736134126479554822012-09-23T07:24:00.000-07:002012-09-23T07:39:01.945-07:00Seasons and ChangeWe are three quarters of the way through September and that means a number of things. County fairs and harvest festivals are taking place all over the country. The kids are settling back into school. The weather is starting to cool down. Being a New Englander by birth I think there is something inherent in Autumn that causes you to be a bit nostalgic. Autumn arriving also shows us the wonderful plan God put into motion during creation. It is part of the circle of seasons that is so representative of life. If you are like me, Disney's <i>The Circle of Life</i> from <i>The Lion King</i> is now playing in your head. Your welcome. At this seasonal change I return to my favorite Old Testament book, Ecclesiastes.<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/09/seasons-and-change.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-16552381038654806122012-09-16T07:38:00.000-07:002012-09-16T07:38:42.514-07:00Love, Gongs and KnowledgeI love weddings. I find every aspect of a wedding fun, and at times entertaining. I enjoy the premarital counseling and planning. It's fun to watch the busyness of the bride's mom and friends as they fret over every minute detail. I find it funny that no one wants anything less than perfection from the flowers to the sound to the music, but they never notice the inevitable slip up or mistake. Then there are the games that the groomsmen play. The things they do that make the bride absolutely nervous. It's all so very enjoyable for me. There is an element to just about every christian wedding, and many secular weddings here in America, that is almost never left out. In a christian wedding it's read or quoted as scripture, and in a secular wedding it's read as a poem. You know the passage. It starts, "Love is patient, love is kind..." and is found in <a href="http://bible.us/1cor13.4-7.nlt" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13</a>. Today I'm asking, "Is this passage only meant for weddings? What about the surrounding scripture?"<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/09/love-gongs-and-knowledge.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-34197164136818924522012-09-09T07:59:00.002-07:002012-09-09T08:00:15.903-07:00I Am CompelledSummer is over and my children are uttering the all too familiar "I'm bored" less now that there is home work and school night bed times. When they do utter that amazing phrase I have to smile and ask, "Would you like me to find you something to do?" They almost never take me up on it. When they do they begrudgingly do what I've asked them only halfheartedly. It's obvious they don't want to. The same holds true for us followers of Jesus Christ. We get so caught up in the emotion or experiencing of life that when the "good feeling" isn't there, we get bored. We get caught up in routine. It's as if we are saying to God, "I'm bored." There is a scriptural answer to this phenomenon.<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/09/i-am-compelled.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-87160713776693552372012-09-03T08:12:00.003-07:002012-09-03T08:14:57.331-07:00Spreading the WordOne of the things Jesus instructed us to do was to go into all the world and spread the gospel. We are to be witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the world. God placed on my heart the desire to share bits of wisdom He has given me with others. Sometimes that is from a pulpit, sometimes one on one, and sometimes it is via the written word. We all should be sharing what God does in and through us with others so that the gospel is not only preached but witnessed. I encourage you to share this blog with anyone who might find something useful or encouraging. I use this blog as one of the methods to encourage people and be a witness for what the Lord has done in my life. In an effort to bring this blog to more people, I am starting to list it in blog directories and search services. One of them, <a href="http://technorati.com/" target="_blank">Technorati</a>, requires a code be posted so they can verify ownership of the blog. 75SGN5R8EBZ4<br />
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I encourage you to link to this blog, post links to articles on popular social networking sites, and forward the e-mails to friends who might profit from the material God has given me to share. many blessings!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-67750023489967673192012-09-02T07:00:00.000-07:002012-09-02T07:01:17.486-07:00Be Who God Made You To BeA friend recommended a book by Max Lucado recently. It's titled <i>The Cure For The Common Life</i>. The friend who recommended it said it sounded a lot like what I share with people when they are struggling with who they are in God. It's a great book so far, and I have no doubt it will be fantastic all the way through. Then on one of my weekly trips across the state I was listening to a podcast from Brian Houston of Hillsong Church. His podcast was reiterating the same thoughts from a different point of view and using different scriptures to make the point. I've taught and counseled this often and I believe the Lord wants me to share it with you.<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/09/be-who-god-made-you-to-be.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-48221641051325434182012-08-26T09:52:00.000-07:002012-08-26T09:52:19.242-07:00Scars and BaggageWhen I was 12 years old I enjoyed building models. I remember the tool box I assembled for model building. It had all sorts of paints and brushes, spare parts and left over pieces, and razor knives and files. One warm summer day I was in the backyard building a model rocket when I learned a very valuable lesson. Don't try to catch a round handled razor knife as it rolls off the table. I ended up with a laceration in my thumb that required more than a band-aid to bind it together. The reason I remember this story is the scar on my right thumb. Every time I see the scar I remember that warm summer day in Chesterfield, Connecticut and the lesson I learned.<br>
<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/08/scars-and-baggage.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-51376944052415916952012-08-19T07:50:00.000-07:002012-08-19T07:50:42.268-07:00Experiences Impact Who We AreI enjoy watching people. I like to observe people in their regular surroundings and try to figure who they are and how they got to be who they are. I really enjoy sitting down over a cup of coffee with someone I've just met and listening to their story. It amazes me how people adapt to different things in their life and those circumstances and adaptations mold who they are today. Being a minister, folks tend to shift to stories of their journey of faith. That's great, but I like to hear the other stuff too. Whether we want to admit it or not, everything we experience in life effects who we are. There is a group that I would have loved to observe and sit down over a cup of coffee and talk to. I would have loved to watch the calling and molding of the apostles.<div>
</div><a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/08/experiences-impact-who-we-are.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-10023679938288015272012-08-12T07:26:00.000-07:002012-08-12T07:26:56.877-07:00Making Deals With GodI have a ten year old son. He is just starting to exhibit those <i>tween</i> tendencies. You know the ones: procrastination, the eye rolls, attitude starting to show, incessant deal making. Sometimes I think he forgets we were youth pastors for many years and know many of the tricks. The thing is if we don't address these issues now, they will grow and worsen as he grows and will effect his relationships with other people and with God. Let's look at the one of these that can effect us very deeply and effect our relationship with Jesus.<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/08/making-deals-with-god.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-61507708364082530412012-08-05T05:00:00.000-07:002012-08-05T05:00:03.314-07:00Looking Back"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." - Edmund Burke (1729-1797). That's an often misquoted quotation of an eighteenth century British statesman. There are countless examples of it being proven true, of course if you ignore history, you wouldn't know that. There is, however, a big difference between studying the past and learning from our own and other's mistakes and wanting to return or retreat to the past. It is completely human to long for the <i>good ol' days</i>, but there in lies the problem. It is <i>completely</i> human. What's the modern Christian to do?<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/08/looking-back.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-7317439734629471662012-07-29T09:19:00.000-07:002012-07-29T09:19:19.156-07:00Moving On Up!"We're moving on up, to the east side, to a high rise apartment in the skies." That is a lyric that brings back some memories. This last week the world lost Sherman Hemsley. He was most known for his portrayal of George Jefferson on <i>All in the Family</i> followed by the spin off <i>The Jeffersons</i>. I love the opening phrase of that theme song. "We're moving on up!" I often think that as the Lord has moved me and my family into new arenas of life and ministry. Isn't it funny how the Lord uses television pop culture from the 70s to lighten my heart in the face of change, uncertainty, and adversity? If you're familiar with the program you know that George worked his way to respect and prosperity through hard work in the face of adversity and bigotry. The adversity and bigotry didn't stop, but he didn't allow it to stop him either. We can learn from this.<br>
<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/07/moving-on-up.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-11676175705714985892012-07-22T08:11:00.001-07:002012-07-22T08:11:21.974-07:00In The Wake of TragedyI grew up near the waters of Long Island Sound. My
grandparents lived on a canal that lead out into the sound and had a motorboat.
I always enjoyed going out in their boat, or going out in the rowboat with my
dad. I remember school trips on the Thames River with <i>Project ‘O’</i> and learning about the ocean and things of the sea. One
of the things I always enjoyed about being on the water was watching the wake from
the boat. That was one of the things that amazed me when I was stationed on a
nuclear submarine. The wake the submarine left was less than that made by my
grandparent’s motorboat or the research vessel with <i>Project ‘O’</i>. I learned that the wake a vessel leaves behind has
little to do with vessel size, but much to do with the design of the vessel.
That is the summation of my knowledge of naval architecture and aqua-dynamic engineering.
It is also the beginning of my understanding of how to cope and work through
the wake of tragedy in our lives.
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/07/in-wake-of-tragedy.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-58461971590688765212012-07-15T07:45:00.000-07:002012-07-15T07:46:50.254-07:00Arrows Pointed Out and Arrows Pointed InThere is a popular concept in emerging churches today. It is <i>arrows pointed out</i>. The main premise is to make sure you are focusing on others before you focus on your self. I have many friends who are part of churches that use this to describe the way they achieve the Great Commission. It is a concept I have taught and preached on many times. There is a potential for imbalance though. As with anything, when the heart attitude is wrong, the action has no lasting effect or spiritual advantage.<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/07/arrows-pointed-out-and-arrows-pointed.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-68711244519951144092012-07-08T07:33:00.000-07:002012-07-08T07:33:30.017-07:00Cruise ControlCruise control is a wonderful piece of technology found in most cars these days. I spend a fair amount of time traveling back and forth across our state on I-90 for various reasons and there's nothing like 70 MPH on cruise control. I do have a couple of rules for it's use though. I rarely use it when it is dark and never when the temperature is below 37 degrees. You're now asking yourself, "What has this got to do with Christian living in the context of a modern world?" Read on and see.<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/07/cruise-control.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-5647361450154427052012-07-01T09:03:00.002-07:002012-08-04T07:15:51.518-07:00To Please God or to Please Man<br>
To please God or to please man? That is the question. It's not exactly Shakespeare, but it is a question we must all answer as we face different decisions and challenges each and every day. It amazes me how many people are more concerned about what other people think of them than what God thinks of them. It also amazes me how often people quote Galatians 1:10 in an effort to justify carnal decisions they have already made.<br>
<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2012/07/to-please-god-or-to-please-man_01.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-35156687018695362382011-08-02T07:30:00.000-07:002011-08-02T07:30:00.821-07:00Call to Action (Part II)In <a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2011/07/call-to-action-part-i.html" target="_blank">Part I of <i>Call to Action</i></a> I talked about the first reason God gave the church (body of Christ) the gift of leaders. In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph%204:11&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:11</a> we read that God gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers. The first reason is to equip the church for the work of the ministry. The church leadership trains up the church body, who in turn goes and does the work of the ministry, which is serving in their community and sphere of influence. Today I want to talk about the second reason God gave us the gifts he did in our church leadership. We see in the latter half of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph%204:12&version=NKJV" target="_blank">verse 12</a> church leadership exists to edify the church body. My dictionary defines edify as a verb that means to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually and to lift up.<br>
<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2011/08/call-to-action-part-ii.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-26802563965298302262011-07-26T11:57:00.000-07:002011-07-26T11:57:20.131-07:00Call To Action (Part I)One of the hot button topics in our nation today is education, and rightfully so. If we do not educate our children, we can no longer grow as a people. We can no longer innovate or discover. We would be destined to relive the dark ages. I realize that is a bit extreme, but you get my point. In Washington State, my chosen home, education is a constitutional mandate. There has been talk about tying student achievement to teacher performance evaluations, compensation, and tenure. That is an interesting thought process that I believe needs much discussion. Don’t worry; I’m not publishing a politically charged one sided argument for or against education or the politicos on either side of that debate. What I am doing is pondering, "What if we applied the same discussion to the church?"<br>
<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2011/07/call-to-action-part-i.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03139596620880054332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-24619930891654077872011-07-19T08:44:00.000-07:002011-07-19T08:44:20.305-07:00Take Up Your CrossI remember the day well. I was so excited. I had longed for this day for many years. God’s plan for my life was unfolding before me and a huge door that had been held shut for more than a decade had finally opened wide. This was the day I would walk across a stage and receive a charge. I would receive the blessing and commission to carry out the mission that had been laid before me. This was the day that I would be ordained. My life’s call to full time vocational ministry was being launched. Everything this world had to offer was fleeting behind me. Yet, I had no idea what the Lord had in store for me and my family. The only thing I knew for sure was God had called me and my family for service, and we were responding whole-heartedly, regardless of the cost.<br>
<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2011/07/take-up-your-cross.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-61786928967858649922011-07-13T08:51:00.000-07:002011-07-13T08:52:55.570-07:00Unforgiveness is Deadly<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Pope" target="_blank">Alexander Pope</a>, a 17th/18th century poet penned the words, "To err is human, to forgive divine" in his work <i>An Essay on Criticism</i>, published May 15, 1711. Pope was a satirist and critic, among other things. One of his sins against humanity and the crown, at the time, was being Catholic. It was interesting to read about 17th century Britain and their laws concerning this. Catholics were not allowed to teach, attend school. vote, or hold public office under penalty of imprisonment. On top of this he had many physical maladies that caused him to hunchbacked, have respiratory problems, and stunted growth.<br>
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I don't know what Mr. Pope's relationship with the Lord was like, but in worldly standards, he had every right to be upset and bitter. He would have many people today understanding if he was unwilling to forgive those who persecuted him because of his personal beliefs and practices, and not conforming to theirs. Yet, he penned the words, "To err is human, to forgive divine". I truly hope he believed that and wasn't just saying it. Jesus addresses this many times.<br>
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<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2011/07/unforgiveness-is-deadly.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Port Orchard, WA, USA47.5403732 -122.6362492000000147.5111687 -122.6796417 47.569577699999996 -122.59285670000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-76904679118189330542011-07-05T09:02:00.000-07:002012-08-04T07:16:18.597-07:00Western Glasses<br>
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Being a child and teenager of the 1970s and early 1980s, I learned how to view the world through a certain lens, let’s call it “western glasses”. From that world view I formed opinions and theories. In my own mind, these opinions and theories were consistent with how I viewed things through my “western glasses” and I labeled them as true and correct. I was able to conjure up justifications for feelings that I had for entire people groups and actions I took all based on my own view and my own ideology that had been learned by viewing the world through my “western glasses”. Time has proven that the learned view, the supposed ideas and truths that were manifested in my mind and opinion based on my viewpoint were a bit off. Sometimes more off than others, but nonetheless, off.</div>
<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2011/07/western-glasses.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-20290192235374381722011-01-27T17:47:00.000-08:002011-01-27T17:47:10.661-08:00Hoarding Isn’t PrettyIt is amazing the things we find on television today. Producers seem to be fixated on producing reality shows. America can't seem to get enough of watching other people's lives. I'm sure it's the sinful nature in us driving it. My wife and I came across a reality show not too long ago which is really quite interesting and typically has a positive impact on a life. It's called Hoarders. It's interesting to see what triggers the hoarding lifestyle and then the painstaking process to clean up a person's home and then counsel them through it as their life is placed back on track. It is amazing to see the living conditions some of these people find themselves in. It's not pretty.<br>
<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2011/01/hoarding-isnt-pretty.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1462677950496817003.post-29805829545153708772011-01-20T19:40:00.000-08:002011-01-20T19:40:37.451-08:00What is Tithing?Every group of people has their own language or dialect. In English, there are many dialects, for example, British English, American English, and Australian English. They are all English, but hardly the same. As a matter of fact they are quite different in some cases and you can be left wondering what was just said. I spent almost ten years in the US Navy. We could write a note for someone with no words on it at all, just acronyms, and another sailor would know exactly what it said, yet a civilian would just see a lot of meaningless letters.<br>
<a href="http://pastorbriansarticles.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-is-tithing.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0